The film starred Joan Collins and Robert Lansing,
with a cast of true die-hards, if you ask me!I can't help but wonder what H.G. Wells would
think about this adaptation of his work. We shot the entire film
on location in Florida...over Thanksgiving and Christmas...and what an
experience, it was!

Click to Order Photo: F-2

Robert Pine is a wonderful actor, as well as
a personal family friend. We had some amuzing moments shooting this
scene - an attempted seduction where, eventually, I get the upper hand.
I think I giggled through the whole thing!

Click to Order Photo: F-3

After the first few weeks of shooting on a
lovely beach area, the small remaining cast - who had so far survived the
giant killer ants - moved to a place called Belle Glade...the crime capitol
of the United States...and a very unpleasant swamp area. We spent
weeks in this tiny rowboat...and the honeywagons were 1/2 hour away by
speed boat.

Click to Order Photo: F-4

There were crocodiles in the water throughout
the swamps, and the crew loved to toss them donuts over the side of our
"picture boat" - the one the actors we used for filming. Hence, those
crocs thought we were great! Well, we were promised nets and a ranger
with a shotgun to stand by when we finally had to film the fall into the
murky water...but nothing was there - no net; no gun! But, courageous
actors that we are, in we went, anyway!

One of the hardest things was to keep a straight
face while running in terror from these "mock-up" ants. Usually,
the director, Bert I. Gordon, would just say, "See that tree over there?
Well, just look over at it and scream." One morning at the crack
of dawn, I had the early shot close-up...well, it was so cold and I screamed
so violently, that I dislocated my jaw!

The first below was snapped between shots...not
a comfortable spot to relax. The second is a sequence of John and
me running through the sugar cane fields. He is a wonderfully disciplined
actor, and gave his "all" to every scene. I really admire him and
his work. Sugar cane can cut you to the quick, and particles of it
flew into my eye giving me four cuts on my cornea. I was swollen
and red for the last week of shooting, so they could only film me from
one side of my face.

Click To Order Photo: F-5

...Just some behind the scenes snaps...

I had the great good fortune in this film of
being on location with some extraordinary people, one of whom I knew from
school and we reconnected during long hours in the hotel. Brooke
Palance - yes, daughter of Jack - and I are still the best of friends and
have traveled extensively together. We even lived in Paris for awhile,
and I am god-mother to her son. Joan Collins was a dream...really
a good sport and a funny lady. She had the most enchanting way of
handling our most uncivilized surroundings. Robert Lansing and Jacqueline
Scott...what talents they both are! Alas, we've lost Robert to cancer,
but he leaves a wonderful body of work behind. And Jackie...well,
she's the funniest person I've ever met!